OLYW - The surprise package China

LONDON (Olympics) - China are seventh in the FIBA Ranking for Women and the champions of Asia, yet they seem to have flown under the radar ahead of the London Games.

The last time the wider basketball community had seen them in action was two years ago, at the FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic when Sun Fengwu's side finished a disappointing 13th.

Their FIBA Asia Championship gold medal did not appear to strike fear into their Olympic opponents, although maybe it should have.

Now that they have arrived at the Olympics, the Chinese have twice won with 9am starts, beating the Czechs and the Croatians.

China defeated the Czechs on Day 1, 66-57, and on Monday routed Croatia, 83-58.

For coach Sun and the Chinese squad as a whole, it's been a dream start.

Chen Nan, the 29-year-old center whose first major tournament with China's senior team was the 2002 FIBA World Championship, has begun as well as she has at any event for China before.

She had 28 points and 10 rebounds against Croatia and is now averaging 19 points and nine boards.

Chen has a good understanding of tournament play and the need the need to be fully concentrated and prepared for every game.

Every team is dangerous, she says.

Were the Czechs, Croatians and other teams guilty of underestimating the Chinese?

If they did, it was a mistake.

"At the Olympic Games, there is no case of having lower expectations for your opponents," Chen said.

"You have to do everything to respect them."

China certainly did not look past Croatia.

Stipe Bralic's team had played the United States extremely tough for three quarters before falling, 81-56.

"I think today's game is good for us because we had a very good attitude and mindset and mental level and we did very well in our preparation for Croatia's offense and defense and we found our solutions," Chen said.

"And most importantly, we executed our coach's strategy very well."

FIBA